Infinite universes, the meaning of life and Rick and Morty
“Nobody belongs anywhere, nobody exists on purpose, everyone’s going to die. Come watch TV?” The philosophy of Rick and Morty. By Swéta Rana
If you’ve never watched Rick and Morty, buy now. I’m serious. It’s not a vague suggestion. It’s an imperative. Open a new tab, search for it, and order it right now.
Hey, what are you doing? You shouldn’t be reading this sentence right here! You should be buying Rick and Morty!
My friend pestered me similarly for over a year before she finally got me to watch it (sheer apathy on my part). And boy, I’m so glad she did. Rick and Morty is many things: an animation, a comedy, an AdultSwim production, a magnificent force of sheer genius… It’s not your average cartoon.
Rick, a hyper-intelligent scientist, and his nervous grandson Morty, are both voiced by co-creator Justin Roiland. The former regularly drags the latter along on his adventures. This set up, à la Futurama, means crazy stuff can happen courtesy of ‘science’ — think spaceships, inter-dimensional hijinks, aliens, fantasy worlds and time travel. And of the many scientists out there, Rick is of the booze-swillin’, swear-spoutin’, powder-snortin’, orgy-havin’ variety. This cartoon certainly ain’t for kids.
Co-creators Roiland and Dan Harmon and have extensive comedic experience, and many of the show’s hilarious jokes were entirely improvised. But the humour isn’t the only reason I love Rick and Morty. The thing that really does it for me is the philosophical speculations. Wait, please, don’t stop reading! I’ll explain.
Rick and Morty extensively explores the common philosophical and scientific theory of parallel universes. In brief: if there is no limit to space or time, then space-time must start repeating itself, because matter can only be arranged in a finite number of ways. If there are an endless number of possible worlds, then anything that can happen has already happened.
When Rick accidentally turns all humans on Earth into mutated aliens, he uses a device to transport himself and Morty to another universe. In this universe, humankind is perfectly safe — and Rick and Morty have just died in a freak accident. ‘Our’ Rick is nonchalant about stepping into this universe and continuing life as before, but the immediate and existential horror that Morty experiences as he buries his own corpse is palpable and utterly chilling. Maybe his life doesn’t matter at all — a second, third or billionth Morty could just step right in to take his place.
Overwhelming? Yes. Cynical. Yes. But Rick and Morty doesn’t intend to depress or alarm its audience. It acknowledges the randomness, uncertainty and meaninglessness of the universe — but it also asserts that the universe’s meaning doesn’t have to matter, that it’s the meaning you make yourself that counts.
Rick is a jaded man bordering on total misanthropy, but his deep affection for Morty redeems him. He doesn’t feel the need to find an innate meaning in the universe, because he has parties and experiments and friends.
As for Morty, in one episode he summarises his worldview very succinctly: “Nobody belongs anywhere, nobody exists on purpose, everyone’s going to die. Come watch TV?”
We live in a time of great uncertainty. A deluge of information bombards us daily; sometimes it feels like our world is collapsing around us. Maybe it is. Perhaps it’s collapsed before? Rick and Morty’s suggested response: try not to worry about what you can’t change. Right now we’re in this universe, and that’s all we need to focus on. Do something that makes you feel good. Hang out with the people you love. Go on a heroic adventure. Have a party, or read a book. Maybe watch a new TV show. I personally recommend Rick and Morty.
Originally published at abstractmag.com on August 4, 2015.
